My Les Paul Forums

Refinishing Q

Represent601 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:56:59 GMT

How expensive would it be to have my guitar refinished? My LP is very close to what I'm looking for, but it's just not there. I have a vintage burst plain top. I really want a plus top. How expensive would that be? Thanks

All in the name of what?

(future)GibsonRocker — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:47:49 GMT

So, as some of you may know and the rest of you won't care, the latest in queer vampire movies came out last night. Somehow i managed to fall for a girl who is a big fan. Don't know why, but now due to some bizarre happenings, I am skipping the Steelers - Chiefs game to go and watch New Moon, with her. Whatever happened to Underworld? Now THERE'S a sexy Vampire...:naughty:

Choosing a new EL34 - do you have a favorite?

Quill — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:37:00 GMT

Hello! I'm bottle-shopping, and I'm bewildered. Thought I'd ask if anyone who uses EL34s or an equivalent has any experience with a good new tube. NOS is not out of the question - just out of the budget! They'll be for a 40w Alessandro Working Dog. Here's the guts:

(I've only just uploaded the photos to my MLP album - might not show up in the thread right away ...)

Not much of a photo but still - isn't that beautiful? They're pretty affordable too, even brand new (mine was second-hand, and there ain't gonna be no third hand, lemmetellya). This is one of those amps that is set up to be a bit more reactive to volume control changes at the guitar; all tube amps do that but there are some that are more "trainwrecky" than others. This one's I'd guess is a bit trainwrecky.

Here's the bias adjustment:

And just for fun, the Ruby/GTs that have to go:

Anyway - the tubes I'm looking at are at The Tube Store, and the links are to their website. Of course I want to try them all but really can only afford one matched pair. I need good bass response and some clean headroom, but not too much. The descriptions only go so far. Through all this, maybe someone else will find a good tube to try for their amp, too.

(Do you ever have to sit your musical self down and give him/her a good talking to? Mine is such a freakin' prima donna. The rest of my self really suffers to make that damn spoiled brat happy, sometimes. Pain in the ass. "I need new pickups!" "I want a better patch cord!" "I need new tubes!" He needs to start earning his keep! The rest of us are workin' overtime and he's not helping with the rent ... but I guess it'll shut him up for a while if we buy him the damn tubes ... (sigh) ... at least it'll confuse him into being quiet for a while.)

The tube that gets the best performance ratings for microphonics, mechanical noise, detail and harmonics is the Tungsol EL34, which is described as a "bit crunchy like a 6L6" at lower levels but is said to "bloom into that singing EL34 tone" when it's pushed. About $50 for a matched pair. But if we're going to blur the boundaries between the 6L6 and the EL34, there's the Gold Lion KT77, which is said to "deliver all the mid punch you would expect in an EL34 but also has a top end that is more open and bright ... a bit of a 6L6 designed into it." About $100/pair.

Looking at it from a bit different angle, there's the Svetlana EL34, under $40/pair: "The bottom end response is not the best, but in a guitar amp it becomes a moot point" I don't know if the bottom end in a guitar amp is a moot point. These are going in a 1x12 combo, it needs all the bottom end help it can get. Also it's said to have a "strident midrange" compared to the Mullard EL34 reissue, which is about $50, same as the Tungsol.

Whew. What to do? Is it between the Tungsol and the Mullard, do you think? How about that KT77?

I thank everyone already for all their previous posts and threads from which I've learned so much. Any help with this'd really just be icing!

Another cool picture day!

Boleskinehouse — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:28:48 GMT

800 dollars...out the door!

The_Sentry — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:24:29 GMT

Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar and more Solid Body Electric Guitars at GuitarCenter.com.

Burger King Limits Ketchup Consumption

Led Zep Fan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:22 GMT

WASHINGTON�In an effort to cut condiment expenses and address the gluttony, waste, and utter lack of self-restraint exhibited by Americans, officials from the fast food industry announced Monday a new policy prohibiting all customers from dispensing their own ketchup.
"We thought our patrons were responsible enough to handle a self-service ketchup pump," said McDonald's CEO James A. Skinner, who claimed that fast food industry leaders were partially to blame for overestimating the maturity of the American public. "However, after watching the way you disgusting people behave when entrusted with a little independence, it's clear that we made a terrible mistake."
"Unlimited access to ketchup is a privilege," Skinner continued, "not a right."
According to representatives from the nation's six largest fast food chains, Americans use more than $18 million worth of ketchup per year, with nearly $7 million of the tomato-based condiment ending up smeared on the backs of chairs, on nearby tables, or in the hair of small children, and in some cases simply spilt in large, repulsive puddles on the floor.
In all, some 220 factors were cited by the American Fast Food Association in their decision to remove the self-service pumps. Among them, the spectacular failure on the part of all patrons to recognize their own limits, and the tendency, among many men and women, to just squirt out the free condiment as if their lives depended on it.
"We tried to treat our customers like adults, and they took advantage of our generosity," said Burger King CEO John W. Chidsey, who was visibly upset after hearing that Americans use on average 14 ounces of ketchup per fast food meal. "What's wrong with you people? Were you scared it was going to run out or something?"
"Look, it's not even about the ketchup, okay?" Swette added. "It's about setting some boundaries for once."
Beginning Nov. 12, all participating fast food restaurants will begin serving a maximum of two ketchup packets with any hamburger-based meal. If a patron desires additional ketchup, he or she will have to fill out a special three-page Ketchup Request Form, which must then be presented to a manager on duty for evaluation.
In addition to specifying the reason for their request, customers will have to present fast food officials with two forms of valid ID, their social security number, and a signature from a third-party witness who can attest to there being enough remaining ketchup-free food to necessitate an additional packet. Only when all conditions are met will a patron receive a condiment voucher.
Patrons requesting barbecue sauce to dip their fries in will be escorted from the premises immediately.
"Our scientists don't spend countless hours manufacturing the food we serve just to have it dunked and drowned in obscene amounts of ketchup," said J. David Karam, president of Wendy's International. "Can customers even taste the dipropyl ketone or amyl acetate in our food anymore? It makes me sick."
Reaction to the new condiment policy has been overwhelmingly negative thus far, with some patrons claiming they would sooner eat lunch at home than frequent a fast food establishment that imposes limits on their ketchup consumption.
"This is outrageous," said Tennessee resident Sheila Hodge, a longtime fast food consumer. "If I want to gorge myself on so much ketchup that I need to vomit, then that should be my God-given right. This is McDonald's we're talking about. Half the reason I come here in the first place is so I can behave like a total animal."
At press time, the Arby's chain was continuing to let customers freely operate their "horsey sauce" dispenser, as nobody in America has touched that shit in years.

Nation's Fast Food Patrons No Longer Trusted To Dispense Own Ketchup | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Epiphone SG

mit771 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:16:14 GMT

Hey,
Just wanted to know what you guys think of My Epi SG!

I basically re-did mostly everything.
Modifications are as follows;

New Aluminum Hand made Pick Guard
New Tuning Pegs(Vintage Style)
New Pick Up Rings(Chrome)
New Volume and Tone Knobs (Chrome)
New Pick-Up Selector Switch Cap(Again, Chrome)
New Truss-rod Cover (Hand made[made of wood] with a rose beautifully inlayed)

Please let me know what you think of it,

And also, I am looking to get Gibson Pick-Ups in it, what kind would you suggest?
I play alot of Blues rock and clasic rock with this guitar, and my favorite band is AC/DC, so I'd like a similar sound and tone.

Also, Post YOUR SG's!

Thanks!

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can anyone tell me the difference between Gibson models

raw power — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:09:05 GMT

I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difference in the way these Gibson guitars are constructed etc
The models I want to know the difference between is the following-

1957 Les Paul Goldtop V.O.S

and

Les Paul Traditional (in goldtop colour)

As far as I can work out these are the same guitars (made from same materials and specs etc) apart from the Goldtop V.O.S has the vintage electronics (pickups and bumblebees etc), tophat knobs, amber coloured pickup selector switch and the trust rod cover is blank. Am I being really stupid and missing something major between the two? Or is this just a great ploy by Gibson to make us spend more money on the V.O.S?

Any help would be great in spotting any differences
Just thinking it seems silly to spend the extra $1500 on the V.O.S when the Les Paul Traditional is built to the same specs and you can get it in Goldtop colour!!!!

epi graph tech nuts... keystone grover buttons

TWANG — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:03 GMT

sold all the keystones I got in yesterday already.
Am gonna try to order some more but it's iffy..

had nickel at 12.00
and chrome at 9.00
plus actual shipping.

have in stock one epi tusq nut
and two epi graph tech graphite nuts.

and some epi bridge saddles in graph tech model.

TWANG

The Ultimate assorted thread for the weekend: slash, fakes, chambers, top-wrapping!

Thundergod — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:21:46 GMT

-Who is better Slash or Buckethead?:slash:
If you say slash then you are a useless ignorant with no taste in music and haven't listened to buckethead:laugh2:

-My new gibson has 3 screws for the TRC and screw headed bridge pins... I know it's the real deal, I just want to know what model it is.

-You hatin' on me cuse me make mony and you broke

-Real Les Pauls are solid

-I just bought a les paul suprome with flame fretboard inlay and 3 humbucking pickups, I know it's real 'cause it's heavier than my friend's solid bodied gibson

-Top wrapping will make buckethead playing a 3 pickup solid suprome with flame inlay sound like slash.

:thumb:

Have fun guys, and have a good weekend:dude:

String harmonics and pickup height

lloydloar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:18:18 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about the setup of my new R0. I got a lot of great feedback about string gauge and setup. Thanks for the help!!

I think I'm close on the setup, but when I'm playing I seem to be getting a lot of tone and/or harmonics coming off the strings that I just inadvertently touch. For example, if I bend a string up and just touch the string above (e.g. bend G up and just touch D with my finger) I get a pretty significant tone and/or harmonic out of the amp. To be clear I'm not saying I slide under the string or anything like that, I just mean touch the string.

Up until now I've played almost entirely strats. I'm pretty comfortable getting around on strats and I don't ever have this problem when playing.

So my question is... Is this something I need to adjust to because humbuckers are that much more sensitive than single coils OR is it possible that I have the pickup height a little too high and the sensitivity is greater because they're too high?

Any ideas?

How has everybody been?

brettk7 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:07:01 GMT

I have been super busy and haven't been able to keep up with everybody and post as much as I would like... But, how have you guys been? Whats new on MLP?

Parametric eq begining of chain

Hamtone — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:04:52 GMT

I keep hearing a real parametric eq is where its at, for the begining of the chain pre distortion/od. I have also been told post stage should have one

Who makes one? I see muff has one and one from a company in Can. I m just not sure what to get. I know I want to have control of the "Q" because I just want to be able to cut and boost what I please.

Anyone?

Any other Genz Benz Black Pearl owners here?

G Man — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:02:31 GMT

I just got a great deal on a Black Pearl head. Haven't had a chance to really put it through its paces yet, but the little I have played it I am very impressed with. Super versatile. Pentode/Triode switch, 2/4 tube switch, which basically allows 30w/15w/8w options. Voicing switch with 5 modes seems like it will make it so I can get a good sound regardless of the guitar I am playing. Very usable mid, nice reverb. Can't wait to get a proper cab for this thing, as right now I have to plug it in through the speaker on my BJr, (Cannabis Rex). I ordered a 1x12 Coyote Cab taht I will be putting the CR into when it gets here. Its the only cab I found online that was wide enough for the BP30. It will be a few weeks before I get the cab, what with the holiday next week, can't wait. I'll post pics when the whole set up is together.

Anywhoo, who else has one and how do you like it?

Got a new ES-339!

filiphslim — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:02:21 GMT

Hello folks!

Two weeks ago I payed a visit to the States and on the plane home I had a really nice Gibson Custom Shop case laying on the overhead shelf.

When I got home, I could finally plug it into my Deluxe Reverb and it was screaming!:lol:

The action is pretty low, just as I like it and the intonation was spot on when I checked it and even though it had gone through one week in New York and after that a one week cruise in the Carribean and finally back home to Sweden, which is pretty amazing!

It also has really great sustain, just like a Les Paul.

These are available with a 59' rounded neck or a slim 60's one. I got the 60's since I've already got a 59' on myLes Paul and thought it would be nice with some variation. Anyways, the neck is very fast and easy and you can really feel the vibrations from the strings when you're playing.

The only thing that I didn't really like on this guitar are the knobs, which feel kind of cheap and plastic. But I've already ordered some really nice dark gold bell knobs, so it'll be fine.

I love it very much and the only bad thing is that I haven't touched my Les Paul in two weeks! :P

Some pics

Size compared to the Les Paul.

Unfortunately I didn't have my amp at home when recording this vid, so I'm playing straight through a small, crappy Custom bass-amp.

You Tube